Author: Jess Harter

Southern California-based fast-casual burger concept Farmer Boys makes its Arizona debut today in the new City Gate Marketplace on the southeast corner of Higley and Baseline in Gilbert. The chain’s signature Farmer’s Burger features two beef patties topped with cheese,

Herb n Smoke, a Mesa-based food truck specializing in barbecue, has opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Mesa. It’s located next to Taco Chiwas on the south side of Main between MacDonald and Robson. The brisket, smoked 12 hours with

Tocaya Organica, a California-based chain of fast-casual modern Mexican restaurants, has opened its fourth Arizona location in downtown Tempe. It’s located in Union Tempe apartments building on the southwest corner of Forest Avenue and Seventh Street. The concept offers salads,

Utah-based Cafe Rio Mexican Grill has opened its 12th East Valley location on the northeast corner of 90th Street and the 101 in Scottsdale. It’s the first restaurant to open at a new mixed-use development called The Edge at Talking Stick.

Back in September, MXSW broke the news that Beard Papa’s, a Japanese-born chain that claims to make ‘‘the world’s best cream puffs,’’ was going to make its Arizona debut in north Scottsdale. It finally opens at 11 a.m. Saturday at

Miss Dessert, an Asian sweets shop that opened in 2018 next to the AZ International Marketplace in west Mesa, is launching a second shop in Gilbert. It’ll be located a few doors south of Sandbar Mexican Grill on the southwest

Kwench Juice Cafe, a family-run eatery specializing in fresh fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies, has opened on the southeast corner of Dobson and Ray in Chandler. Kwench debuted in downtown Phoenix in 2018, but closed in March 2020 after

Dog Haus, a California-based chain of gourmet hot dog shops, will open its second East Valley location at 11 a.m. Saturday on the north side of Tempe Town Lake. The 2,444-square-foot restaurant is located at the Watermark near the southwest

After a two-month closure for renovations, Freezer’s Ice House, a Tempe pool hall/sports bar/nightclub-ish concept that has struggled to define itself since opening in 2017, has reopened as Mill’s Modern Social. The rebranded concept debuted its new name, new look,

Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers has opened its eighth East Valley restaurant on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline in south Tempe. As its almost cult-like following (known as ‘‘Caniacs’’) knows, the menu focuses on just three things: chicken

Food Network personality Guy Fieri has launched a nationwide chain of ghost kitchens called Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen, including one in west Chandler. The virtual restaurant, which only offers delivery, operates out of the kitchen of Italian restaurant Buca di

Cracker Barrel, a Tennessee-based chain of restaurants with a Southern theme, opens its eighth location today in Gilbert. It’s a newly constructed building near the northeast corner of Higley and Baseline. The menu offers breakfast all day and comfort foods

Eatalio Pasta & Wine, a new fast-casual Italian concept that debuted five months ago in southeast Gilbert, has opened a second location on the southwest corner of Val Vista and Williams Field in Gilbert. It takes over the strip-mall space

Scottsdale chophouse and bar Bourbon & Bones, known for its high-end steaks and huge selection of bourbons and whiskeys, launches a second location at 3 p.m. today at San Tan Village in Gilbert. It takes over the building that formerly

Pita Jungle, the Mediterranean concept launched by three ASU students back in the ’90s, officially opens its 24th location today at The Steelyard on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Chandler Heights in south Chandler. The 3,200-square-foot restaurant, the chain’s

Twin Peaks, a Dallas-based chain of sports bars known for its wilderness-lodge decor and female servers’ revealing outfits, launches its fourth Arizona location at 5 p.m. today at Tempe Marketplace. The 7,100-square-foot building with indoor and patio bars and more

With the recent openings of Monroe’s Hot Chicken in Tempe and Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in Mesa, the East Valley has plenty of options for chicken lovers. Now you can add KC’s Cluck Kitchen, a virtual restaurant that’s opened

Well-known Valley pastry chef Tammie Coe has launched Hot Daisy Pizza from her bakery storefront on the northwest corner of Sixth Street and Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix. Besides pizzas – which Coe describes as ‘‘New York style meets California’’ –

Cream of the Crop, a self-described ‘‘neighborhood scoop shop’’ featuring house-made ice creams and toppings, has opened inside Barnone at Agritopia on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert. Creative flavors include Agritopia date with smoked hay and

Old Town Scottsdale’s Il Bosco Pizza, whose plans to expand to southeast Gilbert fell through last year, instead has opened a second location on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. It takes over the old Dvina Modern Fare space on the southwest

Yoli’s Mexican Cocina, a virtual restaurant offering only takeout and delivery, officially opens today in the ghost kitchen food court just south of Tempe Marketplace. Namesake chef Yolanda Gonzalez’s menu features carne asada or chicken tacos, burros, and tortas. Yoli’s

After a delay of nearly two years – first for loans and permits, then due to the pandemic – The Silver Key Lounge, a board game beer and wine bar, finally has opened on the southeast corner of Dobson and

Santanwiches & Salads, a family-owned sandwich shop, has opened – currently only for delivery from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday – on the northwest corner of Val Vista and Ray in Gilbert. All meats for the menu’s half-pound sandwiches

The first virtual version of Sam Fox’s Flower Child concept finally has opened near downtown Tempe. Scheduled to launch Jan. 13, its opening literally was postponed at the last moment. Now, however, it’s up and running out of the kitchen

Desi Fusion, a fast-casual eatery specializing in southern Indian cuisine, has opened near the southeast corner of Alma School and Southern in Mesa. It takes over a strip-mall space that has been home to several short-lived restaurants, including Fresh Millions,

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, a legendary Memphis-based chain known for its signature hot and spicy coating, makes its Arizona debut today in downtown Mesa. It’s located between Worth Takeaway sandwich shop and Oro Brewing Company on the north side